ALBANY -- The Thruway Authority board abruptly rescheduled a meeting Friday that critics said was intended to push through a 45 percent toll hike.

"We live to fight for four more days but I'm not optimistic about Tuesday," Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, R-Schenectady County, said. "They got caught with their hands in the cookie jar."

Legislators expressed anger when the board's Finance Committee meeting was posted on the Thruway's website without advance notice or release of an agenda. Friday afternoon, the webpage was changed to say the meeting would be held Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.

Tedisco said he believes the meeting was rescheduled because unfavorable media coverage convinced some board members to not hold a vote on such short notice.

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"It's not surprising that, once again, the Thruway Authority decided to postpone their meeting after Jim Tedisco and I pointed out their arrogant decision to hold a late Friday afternoon meeting," said Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, R-Melrose. "Their push to pass this toll hike three days after election day, on a Friday afternoon and with no agenda released to the public absolutely defines how they are an out of touch, rogue agency. My hope is that these unelected bureaucrats have come to their senses and realized that a forty five percent tax hike is bad for New York's economy and small businesses."

"This is the exact type of secrecy and closed door dealings that continue to plague New York causing us to be ranked last as a business friendly state," Assemblyman Tony Jordan, R-Washington County, added.

The Thruway has proposed a 45 percent hike on trucks that use the highway, drawing an outcry from businesses and local government officials.

Hearings were held in August on the proposal and the agency indicated the new tolls would be approved by October, but the process has been delayed.

The Thruway is facing a number of financial challenges, including paying for operation of the canal system and funding the $5 billion replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge.

Thruway officials have said that the toll hike is necessary to keep the public authority's finances stable.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has expressed concern that the Thruway's credit rating could be downgraded and borrowing costs would rise without a toll hike, but he has not endorsed a 45 percent increase.

"When the governor says and my colleagues say we are open for business, this doesn't say we are open for business," Tedisco said, referring to Cuomo's new marketing slogan for New York state. "It hurts us."